Zhang Xiu was a son of Zhang Zhao, a statesman who served Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan and Sun Quan's elder brother and predecessor Sun Ce. After his father's death, he inherited the former's marquis title, "Marquis of Lou" (婁侯), because his elder brother, Zhang Cheng, had already received another marquis title.[1]

When Zhang Xiu reached adulthood (at around the age of 19), he, along with Zhuge Ke, Gu Tan[2] and Chen Biao, were appointed by Sun Quan as zhongshuzis (中庶子; an aide to the crown prince) to the heir apparent Sun Deng.[3] They imparted their knowledge of the Book of Han to Sun Deng.[4] As Zhang Xiu was not only precise and orderly in his teaching, but also casual and friendly, Sun Deng regarded him as a close friend and often invited him to attend feasts.[5]

Zhang Xiu was later reassigned to be a "Right Assistant Commandant" (右弼都尉). Sun Quan frequently went on hunting excursions and returned late in the evening, so Zhang Xiu wrote a memorial to the emperor, urging him to have better time management. Sun Quan heeded Zhang Xiu's advice and even showed the article to Zhang Zhao. After Sun Deng died in 241, Zhang Xiu became a "Palace Attendant" (侍中) and was commissioned as a "Commander of the Feathered Forest Corps of the Imperial Guards" (羽林都督) and was in charge of inspecting military affairs. He was later promoted to "General Who Spreads Martial Might" (揚武將軍).[6]

In the 240s, a power struggle broke out between two of Sun Quan's sons — Sun He, who was designated as the new heir apparent after Sun Deng's death; Sun Ba, the Prince of Lu. Zhang Xiu was a supporter of Sun He. In 241, after Zhang Xiu returned from a battle against Wu's rival state, Cao Wei, at Quebei (芍陂), the Wu general Quan Cong and his son Quan Ji (全寄) accused Zhang Xiu, Gu Tan and Gu Cheng of conspiring with an inspecting officer, Chen Xun (陳恂), to make a false report about their achievements in the battle. Zhang Xiu and the Gus were exiled to Jiao Province. As Zhang Xiu previously had a feud with Sun Hong (孫弘), the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, the latter used the opportunity to make further complains against Zhang, which resulted in Zhang being ordered to commit suicide by the Wu imperial court. Zhang Xiu was 41 years old (by East Asian age reckoning) when he died.[7][8]

^De Crespigny, Rafe. "8: The Empire in the South". Generals of the South: The foundation and early history of the Three Kingdoms state of Wu. Retrieved 3 May 2012. For those who were at first more successful, affairs of state produced their own dangers. We have noted the fate of the high-flying Zhuge Ke. Gu Tan, grandson of the Chancellor Gu Yong, and Zhang Xiu, son of Zhang Zhao, were both noted supporters of the Heir-apparent Sun He: when Sun He was dismissed, Gu Tan was exiled to the south and Zhang Xiu was compelled to commit suicide. Lü Ju, son of Lü Fan, held high command in the army, but he rebelled against Sun Lin in 256 and was destroyed.